Election violence may harm govt's image: Rights body
Election violence may harm govt's image: Rights body
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights said
yesterday that widespread election violence might tarnish the
government as the election organizer.
"The commission... is concerned by the widespread and harsh
reactions of community groups over what they believed were
violations in the election by the organizer, the parties and the
people," said commission secretary-general Baharuddin Lopa after
a plenary meeting to review the general election.
Reading a statement by the commission, Lopa said the
violations had occurred in all stages of the election, from
preparations to ballot counting.
"... (the violations) could influence (public) perceptions on
the integrity of the election," he said.
"The commission regrets that the 1997 general election had
proceeded amid intensive violence, claiming lives and causing
damage to property and houses of worship and causing widespread
fear during the campaign," he said.
"It (the violence) shouldn't have happened given that we've
repeatedly held general elections," he said.
The commission sent teams to the sites of election unrest,
including the South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin and Sampang
in Madura, East Java.
The commission found that the unrest was related to a general
increase in violence.
The commission said several violations had occurred, including
the election organizer's failure to invite registered voters to
polling stations.
The commission called on the government, the House of
Representatives, the parties' leaders and community leaders to
evaluate the election.
"We are suggesting that violations in the election be handled
through legal means so that there will not be any prejudice
against the government as the party which organized the
election," Lopa said.
The commission also released a statement of complaint lodged
by the United Development Party (PPP) branch in Jepara, Central
Java. The complaint alleged that security personnel, local
officials, Golkar members and unidentified youths had abused PPP
supporters.
The branch said their property had been vandalized and its
supporters arrested and detained illegally.
On May 30, the commission sent a team to investigate the
Jepara branch's complaint and found that Golkar members and the
community in general had also suffered abuse and vandalism.
The commission called on security personnel in Jepara to act
according to the law and guarantee the safety of people who felt
threatened. (05)